While we were visiting New Brighton beach on Saturday we got to see the amazing sight of thousands of pelicans and other birds swarming right at the shore line. They were enjoying the massive amount of sardines that were apparently in the water. The sardines were actually washing up on the shore in spots. Max, in the photo, was at the beach celebrating his birthday with family and friends so he had a nice birthday surprise. Photographer: Jennifer Silver-Herman
Alex Rinkert an incoming freshman at UC Santa Cruz listens and keeps an eye out for birds at his third location of study near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park on Friday. Rinkert mainly uses his ears to count the birds in the early morning since they don't actively move around as much until later in the day. (John Williams/Sentinel)
Another Friday and another research photography trip. This time I met with Alex Rinkert a recent graduate of San Lorenzo Valley High School who has been conducing this study of the birds in the sand hills near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for almost a year now. While I only shot around 40 pictures, in hopes not to disturb his study, I thought I came away with some nice photographs. Here’s the best of the shoot and look in the coming days for the rest of the photos as well as an article from Cathy Kelly.
Monarch butterflies sat in the grass of Lighthouse Field to soak up some long-awaited sun Wednesday morning. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Hundreds of monarch butterflies fluttered out from their winter hideaways Wednesday morning to dry off their wings and soad up the sun that broke through the clouds for about an hour and a half. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
Frank Bechert was riding through Lighthouse Field to witness hundreds of monarch butterflies drying their wings and soaking up the sun. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel)
A spectacular sunset fills the sky over the Cement Ship and Seacliff State Beach on Tuesday. (Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel)
Monterey Bay Birding Festival group leader, Bob Ramer, watches two hawks at Pinto Lake Park on Thursday. Kate Falconer/Special to the Sentinel
Monterey Bay Birding Festival attendees walk through Pinto lake Park in Watsonville on Thursday. Kate Falconer/special to the Sentinel
Monterey Bay Birding Festival attendees spotted two Western Bluebirds sitting atop a tall iron grate at Pinto Lake Park on Thursday. (Kate Falconer/for the Sentinel)
A 12-week-old Chihuahua plays in the grass at Pinto Lake City Park in Watsonville on Wednesday. (Julia Moore/Sentinel)
Shine and Shanti have some unleashed fun at Frederick Street Park will their owners Nikki Brock, left, and Naomi Fuss, who holds her other dog Sophie make their daily visit to the locale. (Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel)